Planning your hospital stay
The delivery of your baby is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Even if you’ve had a baby before, giving birth to another baby probably will be very different.
Unless you have complications, you will likely be in the hospital only for 24 to 48 hours following a vaginal delivery. While this may seem a very short time, there are several things you can do to make the most of your brief stay.
Before you go
- Ask about procedures. Inquire ahead about the practices at your hospital. Some formerly routine hospital procedures—shaving of the pubic area and giving an enema before delivery, for example—may or may not be done.
- Pre-register. When you come into the hospital in labor, things will go much more smoothly if you’ve pre-registered.
- Determine who will be in the delivery area. Some but not all health care providers are open to your having people in the delivery room besides your partner or another labor coach. If you wish to have any other special friends or relatives witness the delivery, clear it with your health care provider ahead of time.
At the hospital
- Who cuts the umbilical cord? Sometimes Dad does this as a way to share in the delivery, while others have no desire to do it. Discuss it ahead of time with your spouse and your health care provider.
- Should you breastfeed your baby? Consider ahead of time whether you plan to breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends that breastmilk be the primary source of nourishment for the first year of life. If you’re able to breastfeed, many hospitals will encourage moms to breastfeed their babies.
It’s also a good idea, if you’re breastfeeding, to meet with the lactation consultant and to discuss how you can reach her once you’re at home. If you choose to use infant formula, feel confident that an iron-fortified infant formula is your next best choice and is a complete source of nutrition for your baby.
